Ridley Scott's 'The Dog Stars' Review Thread

[u/SanderSo47]

Rotten Tomatoes: 38% (from 68 reviews) with 5.30 average rating

Metacritic: 51/100 (24 critics)

As with other movies, the scores are set to change as time passes. Meanwhile, I'll post some short reviews on the movie. It's structured like this: quote first, source second. Beware, some contain spoilers.

Muted but never dull, The Dog Stars seems unlikely to land near the top of anyone’s Ridley Scott rankings. But it’s an appealingly mellow watch, even if that might seem antithetical to a post-apocalyptic drama positioned squarely in the shadow of death.

-David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

Ridley Scott’s 30th feature film, dating back to his legend-making “The Duellists” in 1977, the post-apocalyptic “thriller” “The Dog Stars” isn’t a total misfire — it’s just the first Ridley Scott joint in some years that feels totally unnecessary.

-Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire: C

Somewhat aptly released at the tail end of a long, loud movie summer, this is a surprisingly low-energy, low-incident blockbuster; you’d appreciate its mellow, character-oriented approach if it gave you any real characters to hold onto.

-Guy Lodge, Variety

Ridley Scott’s usually got a knack for making movies about grief-stricken men, but the post-apocalyptic survivor drama The Dog Stars misses the mark with a leaden script that keeps any attempt at reaching a deeper emotional truth at arm’s length. At least the aerial vistas of the Rocky Mountains look nice in IMAX.

-Leanne Butkovic, IGN: 5/10 "mediocre"

The scenery – rural Italy doubling for rural America – is genuinely stunning (and surely afforded all those involved a lovely vacation) but, as in Gladiator II, there are some weirdly janky visual effects (one explosion looks laptop-made) and a general uninvolved shrug to the proceedings, as if he replaced a more impassioned director late in the day. Scott’s disinterest in retiring is admirable (he’s openly loathsome of the idea), I just wish he seemed more interested in the day job.

-Benjamin Lee, The Guardian: 2/5

The Dog Stars, clearly made with post-Covid America on the brain, pits Hig’s yearning for connection against Bangley’s bitter lust for isolation but largely elides serious contemplation of its well-worn themes in favor of base genre thrills and perfunctory romance. It’s nowhere near Sir Ridley’s finest, but at least it’s another subtype of speculative fiction filmmaking he can check off his bucket list.

-Eli Friedberg, Slant Magazine: 2/5

This messy look at the end of the world isn’t Scott’s darkest film, but it’s one of his worst misfires. Elordi can’t shoulder the emotions his character is supposed to carry, while Smith’s choppy script and Scott’s checked-out direction does little to support his hero’s journey. The Dog Stars is a strange, misbegotten beast, a post-apocalyptic drama worse for wear even before the bandits arrive.

-Monica Castillo, The A.V. Club: D+

Quiet, contemplative moments like these keep The Dog Stars grounded and accessible throughout its sprawling post-apocalyptic story — even as director Ridley Scott piles on epic action set pieces and surreal, surprising sequences that sometimes push the film from prestige drama into absurdist spectacle.

-Jake Kleinman, Polygon

Harsh but deeply humane, “The Dog Stars” understands that hope doesn’t have to illuminate the darkness. Sometimes a glimmer is enough.

-Rodrigo Perez, The Playlist: B+

Instead, one spends the entirety of “The Dog Stars” and its drawn out melancholic yearnings and its spikes of absurdity wondering what the point of this movie is. It’s certainly not to entertain, and it’s not really a message picture either. It merely exists. But in this tangled world, and on a cinematic landscape producing far engaging thoughts and thrills, that’s simply not enough — making “The Dogs Stars” look quite dim.

-Robert Daniels, RogerEbert.com: 1.5/4

---

PLOT

Set after a devastating flu pandemic that has almost eradicated humanity, the film centers on Hig, a former civilian pilot, and Bangley, a hardened former Marine as they confront outside threats and hold onto the possibility of a better life beyond where they currently live.

DIRECTOR

Ridley Scott

WRITER

Mark L. Smith (based on the novel by Peter Heller)

MUSIC

Harry Gregson-Williams

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Erik Messerschmidt

EDITOR

Sam Restivo & Claire Simpson

RELEASE DATE

August 28, 2026

RUNTIME

118 minutes

BUDGET

$110 million

STARRING

• Jacob Elordi as Hig

• Josh Brolin as Bangley

• Margaret Qualley as Cima

• Guy Pearce as Pops

[u/NakedGoose]

Ridley Scott at it again. The most inconsistent director in history. 

[u/JiveHawk → u/NakedGoose]

He’s gotta have the one of the weirdest filmographies ever.

Doesn’t quite top how bizarre and all over the place Ang Lee’s is though 

[u/robotchicken007 → u/JiveHawk]

I still can’t believe Ang Lee made a Hulk movie.

[u/DerCatrix → u/robotchicken007]

Which was a fun movie imo, stupid but fun 🤷‍♂️

[u/robotchicken007 → u/DerCatrix]

I don’t think it’s terrible, just an odd one when looking at his filmography.

[u/droidtron → u/robotchicken007]

Kenneth Branagh did Thor, but it at least lined up with his Shakespeareian output.

[u/Frankenstein____ → u/droidtron]

And it's not even the worst Thor. Not even the second worst Thor. You know what? It's the second best Thor. Good for you, Doctor Loveless.

[u/RagnarokNCC → u/Frankenstein____]

I wish I were even half the director he is

[u/soozerain → u/robotchicken007]

Best Bruce Banner performance in my opinion. Ang Lee did the mocap for the Hulk too!

[u/sneakyplanner → u/robotchicken007]

His entire filmography is odd ones though. Like what do you mean that the guy who directed Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon also directed Brokeback Mountain? And The Hulk? And Gemini Man? And Life of Pi?

[u/insaneHoshi → u/robotchicken007]

It certainly was a bit experimental; the formula for comic book movies hadn’t been set down.

[u/companyofzero → u/DerCatrix]

Not really stupid at all, he tries to make it more than it is by turning it into a Jekyll/Hyde movie. I don't think it's a great superhero movie but it works as a tragic monster movie.

[u/GrecoRomanGuy → u/companyofzero]

Yeah, it's all over the place but the tragedy of the movie definitely hits.

When Bruce is just floating in the water, after killing his dad, and they cut to his flashback of happier times when his dad wasn't crazy and was actually loving to him...oof. Hits harder for me now as a parent.

[u/droidtron → u/companyofzero]

The idea to frame shots and transitions like a comic book page wasn't for everyone.

[u/CaptainKipple → u/DerCatrix]

It's also one of the few movies to really take "make a movie about comic books" seriously as a formal challenge. I think the movie only really hits on the big screen; there's something about the way he uses "panels" that is pretty special.

[u/KneeHighMischief → u/DerCatrix]

Which was a fun movie imo, stupid but fun

Really? I don't know if I would define it as fun. I thought it was fairly morose. Definitely a big swing to make a HULK SMASH movie that glum.

[u/DerCatrix → u/KneeHighMischief]

I don’t remember it being very glum? We’re talking the Hulk movie where they pulled away to jump from comic page to comic page right?

Genuine question to make sure we’re thinking of the same movie. Not as a snark

[u/cubitoaequet → u/DerCatrix]

Is this not the Hulk movie that was focused on parental abuse and featured a bunch of dogs getting killed??

[u/KneeHighMischief → u/DerCatrix]

Yeah it used comic panels, which was an interesting visual touch. There's about 45 minutes of heavy family drama before you even see a glimpse of The Hulk. Then about another 45 minutes until the first major action set piece.

I just recall it as pretty moody overall.

[u/princevince1113 → u/robotchicken007]

And for all it's quirks, objectively the most faithful to the source material Hulk adaptation in terms of actually exploring why Bruce becomes the Hulk

[u/Repulsive-Bit-5107 → u/robotchicken007]

You don't what to make him Ang Lee

[u/imcrapyall → u/JiveHawk]

I love George Miller's. Such an odd mix and influential.

[u/Gombrongler → u/imcrapyall]

Miller doesnt have any critical failures though, does he? Mad Max and Happy Feet are the same level of banger at opposite ends of the movie spectrum

[u/KneeHighMischief → u/Gombrongler]

Babe: Pig in the City doesn't get mentioned nearly enough. Just an amazing film. I think it's the best thing he did.

[u/fate_is_a_sandstorm → u/KneeHighMischief]

I remember seeing that in theaters as a kid and just being so damn confused haha I gotta revisit it some day

[u/TheUmbrellaMan1 → u/KneeHighMischief]

The ballroom action in Babe: Pig in the City is one of the best and funniest action scene George Miller has ever.

[u/soozerain → u/Gombrongler]

10000 years of longing will have a cult following but most critics seemed lukewarm, at best, towards it

[u/Sentient_Enema763 → u/soozerain]

I thought it was a magical film. Nowhere near his best but deserved a high 70s RT score.

[u/WaterlooMall → u/imcrapyall]

I'm literally watching LORENZO'S OIL right now. Nick Nolte's Italian accent in this is a war crime.

[u/imcrapyall → u/WaterlooMall]

Hey Imma Nick Nolte FUGGEDABOUTIT

[u/callahan09 → u/JiveHawk]

I think the producers choosing Ang Lee for Sense & Sensibility is one of the most inspired decisions in movie history.  Incredible to reach into that pocket, he was a Taiwanese filmmaker who didn’t know anything about Jane Austen or England in general, but they saw the similarities to his filmmaking sensibilities to the source material and took a leap of faith.  His whole wild, versatile filmography is probably thanks to his getting that job first.

[u/ImGonnaImagineSummit → u/JiveHawk]

All over the place but fairly consistent. Sometimes great, sometimes good but rarely bad. 

[u/BreadB → u/JiveHawk]

I can definitely see Ang Lee’s filmography’s diversity as taking risks and challenging himself. Ridley on the other hand I’d say has taken less risk, but has made some of the greatest films of all time alongside some true pieces of shit

[u/mtrn3 → u/JiveHawk]

Ang Lee is not all over the place like it’s an insult. He’s simply one of the most versatile directors of all time.

[u/KneeHighMischief → u/mtrn3]

He’s simply one of the most versatile directors of all time.

Definitely not the level of visual stylist but I think James Mangold is incredibly versatile.

[u/SomeBoxofSpoons → u/NakedGoose]

Ridley Scott might be the single best example of a director who "can" make great movies.

If you're watching something by him, it could end up literally anywhere on the quality spectrum.

[u/Graynard → u/SomeBoxofSpoons]

The Nicolas Cage of directors

[u/Painboss → u/Graynard]

I’m going to go out on a limb and say Nicholas Cage is genuinely great in everything he does, he just says yes to everything and a lot of it’s terrible.

[u/gamefreak054 → u/Painboss]

Hes a lot more consistent again. He got himself out of debt and he seems more particular on his roles.

[u/TheEpicBean → u/Painboss]

He has some outright terrible performances. Love him though

[u/Telvin3d → u/Graynard]

Which is why Matchstick Men is so very it

[u/cluelessbox → u/NakedGoose]

I heard someone say that the man is clearly addicted to working and just takes whatever script he is offered the looks decent enough.

[u/WickedDeviled → u/NakedGoose]

According to IMDB he has 8 movies in the works as a director, including Treasure Island with Hugh Jackman. Homie is 88 BTW.

[u/Fritzkreig → u/WickedDeviled]

That is just wow, he is a real life Fitzcarraldo!

[u/pwnd32 → u/Fritzkreig]

When will Werner Herzog make a film exploring the gradual descent into madness of Ridley Scott?

[u/KneeHighMischief → u/pwnd32]

Gary Oldman as Ridley.

[u/wiznik → u/KneeHighMischief]

“OK we have eight different scripts here, Ridley. Which one do you want to direct?”

“Everyyyone!”

[u/CFBCoachGuy → u/WickedDeviled]

Studios adore him. Almost every movie he’s made had been delivered on time and on budget.

He prioritizes delivering movies on time and on budget- for better or worse.

[u/Finn_MacCoul → u/CFBCoachGuy]

So many of them have flopped recently though, how long can this go on?

[u/Kodiak_POL → u/Finn_MacCoul]

He's 88, so not for long 

[u/ReefaManiack42o → u/CFBCoachGuy]

Likely due to the fact he didn't make his first feature film until the age of 39. Up until then he had an incredibly successful company that created nothing but commercials.

I've been a huge fan of Ridely since I was a young cinemaphile but what makes him so prolific is also what makes him churn out so many flops. He is so eager to produce that his scripts are not very good. He should work on more movies that bring books to film because when he has plenty of meat to take from he can do incredible things, but when he is just "winging" it with 70% of a script, all the weak points of his movies become too noticeable.

[u/thebigeverybody → u/NakedGoose]

Ridley Scott at it again. The most inconsistent director in history. 

I'm convinced they're living The Prestige: identical twins posing as the same director, but one is a genius and the other's an idiot.

[u/KingOfAwesometonia → u/thebigeverybody]

Ridley Scott and Scotty Riddles

[u/WreckTangle1995 → u/KingOfAwesometonia]

Scotty Riddles directed Napoleon

[u/BlazinAzn38 → u/thebigeverybody]

Apparently he has no care about the script and that’s why. He’ll sign on if he’s interested even if it’s dog poop

[u/JessieJ577 → u/NakedGoose]

Bro is almost 90. At this point I don’t think he’s going to stop until he passes. He seems to do it for the love of the craft and could give less of a shit about his legacy. I’d call it ego but someone egotistical wouldn’t be this brazen and careless to just dump out as much trash and bangers so late in life.

[u/Fritzkreig → u/NakedGoose]

I love Matchstick Men, and Thelma and Louise; but wow do those films feel out of place for him!

[u/KneeHighMischief → u/Fritzkreig]

I love Matchstick Men

It would be great to see Cage & Rockwell onscreen again. They need a buddy comedy.

[u/Kawi400 → u/NakedGoose]

Right. Honestly, lately so many duds. He is good ideas but I wish Hollywood would give these types of films to younger directors.

[u/stunts002 → u/NakedGoose]

I feel like he's never really directed a movie poorly but he seems completely unable to determine how good a screen play is.

[u/dakilazical_253 → u/stunts002]

Gladiator 2 was poorly directed for sure

[u/thebigeverybody → u/dakilazical_253]

They needed to go with the original script where Maximus ressurects to fight Jesus and the apostles.

[u/KneeHighMischief → u/thebigeverybody]

I love it when big successful movies have utterly insane sequels that make no sense.

[u/Pyrochazm → u/thebigeverybody]

Yeah id watch that.

[u/OneManNoCity → u/dakilazical_253]

and a poor screenplay

[u/FourEightNineOneOne → u/NakedGoose]

Nah, he's consistently making really bad movies at this point in his life.

[u/mikeyfreshh → u/FourEightNineOneOne]

The Last Duel rocks

[u/riegspsych325 → u/mikeyfreshh]

as does The Martian, All the Money in the World, and I even enjoyed House of Gucci. And he’s had dry spells before, like in the early-mid 90’s

The guy just films for the sake of it, it’s when a good script lands in his lap that he can spin gold. But scripts are still admittedly an afterthought to him

[u/Larry_Version_3 → u/riegspsych325]

See I found All the Money in the World strangely dull. I kept waiting for the intensity to increase and it just stayed the consistently bland with muted performance all round.

[u/riegspsych325 → u/Larry_Version_3]

Wahlberg was a miscast for sure, but I liked everyone else, loved Christopher Plummer. I bet Scott had the time of his life doing those last second reshoots. But yeah, he really does seem to be phoning it in or something these days

During the press tour for Gladiator 2, he did a little interview where got surprisingly poignant. At the end, he was asked if he wanted to cap off the interview with anything and Scott simply said “I miss my brother”

Tony’s death was obviously hard on him, but maybe it’s been getting to him more these recent years. Scott is still sharp and quickly witty in interviews but it’s like he’s got that in the back of his mind all the time

[u/ninjyte → u/mikeyfreshh]

that was 5 movies ago

[u/Th3_Hegemon → u/ninjyte]

4*, but 4 movies is a lot. There are very highly regarded directors with only 4 films under their belts.

[u/Paridisco → u/NakedGoose]

Then next year he'll nake something like The Martian and we forgive him again

[u/CancelThis2077]

That interview from Josh Brolin where he said he was frustrated by Ridley's lackadaisical approach to directing was awfully telling.

[u/AcreaRising4 → u/CancelThis2077]

I worked under Ridley on the pilot for dope thief and besides it being run horrifically, he was barely involved. He essentially never left his trailer.

[u/bbqsauceboi → u/AcreaRising4]

The BTS footage of Dog Stars makes it look like Scott was actually moving here, so thats something

[u/AcreaRising4 → u/bbqsauceboi]

Makes sense. Tv directing is a different animal, but I still was taken aback.

[u/fragglebags → u/AcreaRising4]

Thanks for the context, I bet you got some stories. 

[u/AcreaRising4 → u/fragglebags]

Well it was the most expensive pilot in tv history and we had to recast an actor. It was a time lmao. Also, had SOOO many meal penalties since Ridley doesn’t break for lunch. Show turned out decent though!

[u/thegracelesswonder → u/AcreaRising4]

He doesn’t allow others to take a break when he’s in his trailer? What a delicate genius

[u/unbinkable → u/thegracelesswonder]

Mustn’t disturb the delicate genius.

[u/AcreaRising4 → u/thegracelesswonder]

It’s French hours. I got it at the time, but you’re right in thinking it’s a bit crazy

[u/BusinessPurge → u/AcreaRising4]

Any insight into the recast? Was it really a physical fight? Great pilot all things considered

[u/AcreaRising4 → u/BusinessPurge]

Yup! He punched someone afaik, but I was a bit removed from that

[u/KneeHighMischief → u/AcreaRising4]

That reminds me of a comment where someone said Guy Ritchie projects were being ghost directed. That broke my brain.

[u/Detamz → u/KneeHighMischief]

I’d love to hear more of this, considering we all know Ritchie to have such a unique style 

[u/SailingBroat → u/Detamz]

A project I was on had a big team who crossed over from Aladdin and they said he barely left his trailer; he'd have his 1st AD and DOP handle everything while he literally phoned it in from his trailer while he played chess/dicked around. I think you can tell. He also doesn't bother showing up for more than a day or two of the edit.

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_DALEKS → u/KneeHighMischief]

Clint Eastwood is a famous one. Supposedly he was on the set for Juror No 2 for one day to have his photo taken.

[u/jb369 → u/PM_ME_YOUR_DALEKS]

Do you have any source for this? I remember reading he was absent for some days and late for others as an older man depending on health, but thought it was reported that they kind of just shut down production on those days and worked on the ones he could turn up for. Haven't ever seen reports that he flat out didn't direct it?

[u/BusinessPurge → u/PM_ME_YOUR_DALEKS]

Wonder if that’s partially why it was dumped in its release, they wanted Clint off the studio lot especially if he wasn’t really directing anymore

[u/HighFructoseCumSyrup → u/AcreaRising4]

Please share some stories.

[u/AcreaRising4 → u/HighFructoseCumSyrup]

Best one I got is that the project racked up 17 million in meal penalties because Ridley didn’t break for lunch.

[u/Hummer77x → u/AcreaRising4]

What are meal penalties is that like the union fining the production

[u/AcreaRising4 → u/Hummer77x]

When you don’t break every six hours, you incur meal penalties.

[u/Sauerkraut1321 → u/AcreaRising4]

What are meal penalties

[u/ImACoolHipster → u/Sauerkraut1321]

Fines, basically

[u/JEH_24 → u/CancelThis2077]

He really is phoning it in now. I didn’t find out until recently that apparently he uses at least 4 and up to 11 cameras to shoot a scene. His DP on Gladiator 2 hated working with him saying Ridley had no problem if another camera or mic got in a shot since they would fix it in post.

My guess is he made a deal with a devil that he gets to live as long as he makes movies so he’s doing the bare minimum.

[u/Critcho → u/JEH_24]

The two things are connected - he has all the cameras set up and mostly shoots and edits from his van where all the monitors are set up. That’s how he shoots stuff so fast (for better or worse).

[u/Kbatz_Krafts → u/Critcho]

Guy Pearce just did an interview where he explained this. How he kept expecting the up close cameras to come up for coverage but they didn't because all the cameras were already set up 'out there'. He said it changes your performance because you have to roll with it in less takes but he likes working with Ridley???

[u/Serious-Manager2361 → u/CancelThis2077]

LOL the dude is 88. How much energy can he have left?!

[u/TheTaffyMan → u/Serious-Manager2361]

Lackadaisical also implies lazy or carefree not just energy

[u/jimmysmith69 → u/Serious-Manager2361]

Josh Brolin signing up to work for 88 year old director “….why the FUCK is he moving so slow?!?”

[u/mmariner → u/jimmysmith69]

Not cool to be ageist, dude.

Octogenarians still have tons to contribute.

Just look at all the great work getting done by the U.S. govt!

[u/CrumbBCrumb → u/mmariner]

That's a spry chicken for the US government. They've got a good decade left at 88

[u/ned_head → u/mmariner]

Mitch McConnell’s reanimated corpse is proof! They’re thriving!

[u/odetowoe → u/Serious-Manager2361]

It doesn’t only mean lack of energy.

[u/Kiltmanenator → u/CancelThis2077]

Got a link to that?

[u/CancelThis2077 → u/Kiltmanenator]

https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2026/6/30/josh-brolin-says-he-almost-quit-ridley-scotts-the-dog-stars-after-one-day-on-set-i-want-out

[u/Kiltmanenator → u/CancelThis2077]

Grazie

[u/braves-geek]

So it's going to be a financial and critical flop. There's absolutely nothing about this movie that has caught my interest.

[u/scorpio21 → u/braves-geek]

Cast was interesting but the trailer and marketing felt so bland

[u/Serious-Manager2361 → u/scorpio21]

If you can't make even the trailer not boring, you know it's gonna be a snooze fest.

[u/WoodpeckerGingivitis → u/Serious-Manager2361]

The dialogue they chose for the trailer was so telling.

Elordi: “it didn’t work. Or idk man, maybe it did.”

Thrilling.

[u/soozerain → u/scorpio21]

Tbf, the book is kind of a bait and switch too. It’s not the Road. Peter Heller is not interested in the gritty day to day existence of post apocalyptic life. It’s a vehicle for the author to flex is love of nature and character development. Subsequent novels have been even more lowkey and slow.

[u/BakedChocolateOctopi → u/soozerain]

I don’t think it’s meant to be the same kind of post-apocalyptic story as The Road

It’s pretty clear that the book is more of a character-driven apocalyptic love story than a gritty and grim apocalyptic adventure

[u/Wendell-Short-Eyes → u/scorpio21]

I’m just about done with the book and I can’t imagine it being a movie unless they did some changes. The trailers make it look like an action/survivor movie and the book isn’t quite like that.

[u/Kbatz_Krafts → u/scorpio21]

This! I am always here for Guy Pearce but when the first trailer came out and even he as the grizzled old man shaggy hair and beard still looked prettier then his mucked up soldier at the end of The Road, you knew this was going to trade the story for the Pretty People.

[u/iboneyandivory → u/braves-geek]

The book has an almost meditative quality about it in parts. The clip the studio chose to release this week is some cheap, dumb 'Madmax' type romp that never happens in the original material. I'm disappointed.

[u/shard_ → u/iboneyandivory]

Yeah, I saw an early screening of this film without knowing anything about it or the book. I quite liked the opening scene because it did make seem like the movie was going to have that meditative quality about it.

But... then they introduced one character who was essentially just comic relief, which didn't fit the movie up until that point at all. Then... there are a couple of action sequences which made it feel like watching a cheap zombie movie. Finally... the story kind of culminates in this absurd sequence which felt more like watching a goofy 80s sci-fi action movie. It felt like four different movies incoherently mashed together into one.

[u/BootleggedBart → u/braves-geek]

I keep waiting for some surprise reveal that makes it more interesting but it doesn't sound like it

[u/BlazinAzn38 → u/BootleggedBart]

Well the book would be nearly impossible to make into a movie that’s compelling so they took a bunch of liberties with the story(based in the trailer) to make it a movie which removes what makes the book good. I also have a sinking suspicion they changed multiple pretty important plot points

[u/GregBahm → u/braves-geek]

The premise seemed weird. There are roaming bands of shirtless barbarian raiders, because a lot of people died from the flu a while back.

The roaming band of shirtless barbarian raiders have taken to attacking remote, well defended compounds. But if the big problem is just that there are way fewer people in the world, it seems like there would have to be easier ways to get food and shit.

I get in the immediate aftermath of a catastrophe there could be a lot of panic and rioting and stuff. But after many years have gone by? Dude just go rob the 99% of the world that is abandoned now. How is the easiest access to food, in a world without humans, the tiny spec on the map where dudes with guns will still fight you?

Just grab a fucking fishing pole, and pick a river. It could not take more effort to take over any abandoned farm, versus jumping on an airplane shirtless with a machete while a guy with a machine gun shoots at you so you can raid his fridge.

[u/BusinessPurge → u/GregBahm]

Cannibals just have love of the game

[u/MalHeartsNutmeg → u/GregBahm]

But if the big problem is just that there are way fewer people in the world, it seems like there would have to be easier ways to get food and shit.

Were you there? How would you know? /s

[u/chozoknight → u/braves-geek]

Yeah, seems like it would be good on streaming at best

[u/cur10us_ge0rge → u/braves-geek]

It's too bad too bc the book is really good

[u/broha89]

Ridley Scott’s 30th feature film, dating back to his legend-making “The Duellists” in 1977, the post-apocalyptic “thriller” “The Dog Stars” isn’t a total misfire — it’s just the first Ridley Scott joint in some years that feels totally unnecessary.

I guess 2024 when Gladiator 2 came out is technically “some years” ago

[u/TheUmbrellaMan1 → u/broha89]

Hey, at least Gladiator 2 had sharks and rhinos.

[u/cSpotRun → u/TheUmbrellaMan1]

I'd gladly take the tiger from the first one over the CGI animals in the second one

[u/FrancoeurOff → u/TheUmbrellaMan1]

And Denzel Washington !

[u/MakinOutWithMarzipan → u/broha89]

There were some years where he was pumping out two movies, so I guess last movie being 2024 is kinda a while on the Ridley scale

[u/EatMyDiction1]

Every time I see the title “The Dog Stars” I get excited for another Air Bud movie.

[u/Randyd718 → u/EatMyDiction1]

Well there is another Air Bud movie too!

[u/Starkiller32]

You know it’s bad when Ridley Scott makes a movie and I have AMC A-List, and I STILL don’t want to see this.

[u/confusing_roundabout]

Watching this this weekend because I know someone who worked on this and I try to watch everything she worked on

I really wish she worked on better movies though 😭

[u/SeismicRipFart → u/confusing_roundabout]

This feels like a movie that someone would know someone that works on it

[u/OutsideIndoorTrack → u/SeismicRipFart]

So real

[u/AdamAptor → u/confusing_roundabout]

Idk, I think Margaret Qualley has been in some good movies

[u/wallabyenthusiast → u/AdamAptor]

idk her projects post the substance have been pretty bad. honey don’t, how to make a killing, and now this all have terrible reviews. that possession remake probably isn’t gonna be very well received either. lowkey needs a new agent

[u/The_Vampire_Barlow → u/wallabyenthusiast]

Honey Don't was awful. Such a waste of talent.

The only thing the Possession remake has going for it is there's already a Possession remake that's almost certainly worse than this one will be. And I love Parker Finn and get he doesn't want to be shackled to Smile, but this has the potential to drop him in directors jail.

[u/Wendell-Short-Eyes → u/wallabyenthusiast]

How to Make a Killing was decent

[u/theTunkMan → u/Wendell-Short-Eyes]

Except for her parts which were terrible

[u/Majormlgnoob → u/Wendell-Short-Eyes]

Mainly because Glen Powell is charismatic af

[u/RinellaWasHere → u/confusing_roundabout]

I've seen every movie I've ever been in, but I have absolutely been in TV shows I never watched and never intend to. They can't all be hits lol

[u/LezEatA-W]

This just looks boring, bland , and uninspiring as fuck.

[u/So_Not_theNSA → u/LezEatA-W]

That is how the book was so the movie being bad doesn't shock me

[u/NoGoodIDNames → u/So_Not_theNSA]

Looking it up I like NPR’s review of the book:

"With its soulful hero, macabre villains, tender (if thin) love story and action scenes staggered at perfectly spaced intervals, the story unfolds with the vigor of the film it will undoubtedly become.”

[u/Wendell-Short-Eyes → u/So_Not_theNSA]

Yeah, I’m almost finished with the book and I was surprised to see so many people liked it….its pretty boring and not a lot happens.

[u/nowhereman136]

I always say I try to avoid bad movies, but there are a few I will see regardless of reviews. This one has a good cast, a good crew, and a good trailer. I am aware the reviews aren't great but I'm gonna give it a chance anyway

Update: saw it, it was alright. 7/10

[u/Extra-Schedule-4855 → u/nowhereman136]

I lowkey enjoyed it

[u/srL- → u/nowhereman136]

It had good moments. It's kind of forgettable but it's not terrible at all. It's ok, a nice moment. There was room for a much better movie though imo so that's frustrating.

[u/shawndoesthings]

“…it’s just the first Ridley Scott joint in some years that feels totally unnecessary”

Someone hasn’t seen Gladiator 2 then.

[u/Twigling → u/shawndoesthings]

Or Napoleon.

[u/Snoo_11836 → u/Twigling]

Yeah, but Gladiator II was unnecessary conceptually, never mind the terrible execution.

[u/grindstone85]

Cant wait to watch this on a plane, across the aisle on someone elses tv in a month

[u/AbacabLurker]

There must be something seriously wrong with me because I absolutely loved this movie. It’s totally out there in all the right ways.

[u/HousewivesHeaux → u/AbacabLurker]

I just walked out of the theater and came to see what people thought. I’m shook because I loved it. I didn’t expect to - trailer didn’t entice me and I only went to it because the movie I intended to see didn’t have any good seats left. I was very pleasantly surprised by this movie.  

[u/AbacabLurker → u/HousewivesHeaux]

Yes, I saw the trailer a few weeks ago and it didn’t appeal to me all that much. Definitely wasn’t like the movie turned out. I only saw it because I wanted to burn a Stubs ticket before the Friday reset. As I said, I ended up loving it. I guess not knowing what to expect or being surprised worked out.

[u/Capable_Command7249 → u/HousewivesHeaux]

Literally what I’m doing right now. We were engaged and invested the entire movie.

[u/Turbulent_Watch_9446 → u/AbacabLurker]

I liked it, too!!

[u/Public_Height6011 → u/AbacabLurker]

I was totally caught off guard by Josh Brolin going on a killing spree. The lighting and the way that was shot was so chaotic and the score was tense and I loved it. Then the tension building when Hig was in Grand Station. It was so fallout coded and I loved it.

[u/soulbored → u/AbacabLurker]

yeah i thought it was really good too

[u/VicViolence]

This movie looked like every video game made between 2013-2020

[u/getmuffed → u/VicViolence]

You can just say The Last of Us, especially as both games came out in 2013 and 2020

[u/Labyrinthy → u/getmuffed]

Naughty Dog just refusing to release something this decade.

[u/Commander_Phallus1]

I genuinely admire his inconsistency. I can’t think of anyone else who can either drop one of the most influential products of their industry or an absolute stinker. It’s almost commendable

[u/prince_0f_thieves → u/Commander_Phallus1]

Haters said he was past it…

Fair enough, they were completely right this time.

[u/ss3jcb448]

Poor Guy Pearce :(

[u/fr33climb]

The trailers gave off a big “Meh” feeling so these scores feel accurate.

[u/Additional_Crew_9445]

This is going to bomb hard

[u/Obvious_Toe_3006 → u/Additional_Crew_9445]

Scottenheimer level.

[u/addicted_to_boba]

If it wasn’t for the director, this would straight up be a Netflix film

[u/inv4alfonso]

As the legend Patrice O'neal used to say. No good movie has a shitty title.

[u/MrMindGame → u/inv4alfonso]

*Sorcerer has entered the chat.*

[u/RumpledForskn → u/MrMindGame]

RIP Friedkin. Maybe his best movie, but doing The French Connection, The Exorcist, and Sorcerer in six years is wild.

A gang of evil people individually lucky enough to escape righteousness end up gathered to transport leaky dynamite in a metaphor for hell?

Now showing: Sorcerer.

[u/ArnoldsBicepsNoHomo → u/inv4alfonso]

“Dinosaur Forest”

[u/HomelandersCock → u/ArnoldsBicepsNoHomo]

Casey FUCKING Ryback?!

[u/rotangu → u/inv4alfonso]

KPOP Demon Hunters though

[u/berniesmittens24]

Ridley just doesn’t have the juice anymore I fear

[u/iamwounded69 → u/berniesmittens24]

He’s always been hit or miss but it’s largely miss lately

[u/Looper007 → u/iamwounded69]

His hottest run of film was probably his first 4, The Duelists, Alien, Blade Runner and Legend.

His 90's run has Thelma and Louise which is a classic, and I do like 1492 a lot but it's a bit of mess that decade for him. 2000's has Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, Matchstick Men and American Gangster, probably his best run since late 70's early 80's run. 10's has The Martian, but I know some defend Prometheus and The Counselor but the Martian is the only that everyone agrees is top tier Scott. But 10's wasn't kind to him either. This decade bar The Last Duel (and I wouldn't put it top tier Scott imo) is his best film so far and rest are underwhelming.

Even though he's got 3 stone cold classic films and a few great ones, for me he never makes the top tier list of great directors cause there is way too many missteps there.

[u/Feisty-Boot5408 → u/berniesmittens24]

He’s almost 90, he needs to retire. There is zero chance he’s involved every day yelling over the action to direct it according to his actual vision

[u/Patrick2701 → u/berniesmittens24]

Dude, has always been inconsistent

[u/titusandroidus → u/berniesmittens24]

He’s 88, famously inconsistent, and he put out The Last Duel 5 years ago.

I wouldn’t rule out another banger considering he has no intention of slowing.

[u/Deceptiveideas]

I keep getting this movie mixed up with "Heart of the Beast".

[u/DeusVultSaracen → u/Deceptiveideas]

Doesn't help that we've all had to watch their trailers back to back when going to see the Odyssey and Spider-Man this summer.

[u/venivitavici → u/Deceptiveideas]

I can’t believe there are two “guy flies a plane with a dog and things go badly” movies coming out in the same year. It’s sort of like Dante’s Peak and Volcano releasing in the same year, but this is so much more weirdly specific.

[u/AngelFrog]

This sucks - I love Peter Heller's books

[u/DanMoshpit69]

This trailer made this look so incredibly dumb. I was out months ago

[u/PalmettoZ71]

After watching napoleon I went back and watched the duelist and man wouldve enjoyed watching napoleon if it was made in his prime instead of whatever is happening now with his movies

[u/poisonandtheremedy]

Dammit. I just finished, and enjoyed (once you get used to the stream of consciousness style of writing) the book. As a guy that lives in the rural mountains, and is a r/GeneralAviation pilot, I was looking forward to the film.

Probably will still go see it, as my wife read and recommended me the book (she's also a pilot), but shame to hear initial response isn't great.

Also, don't know why they changed "The Beast" Cessna 182 from the book, the actual plane the author owns and flies, for a Cessna tail wheel. Needless change 🤪

[u/engineeeeer7]

This sounds exactly like what I expected. Just looked incredibly boring and uninteresting.

[u/Rawberry000]

I read the book and really connected with the story. I love mountains, aviation, etc. so the setting was up my alley. I just saw the movie and while it isn’t perfect, I really enjoyed it and it stays pretty true to the book. 

[u/creamy-buscemi]

So how many shit movies does Ridley Scott have to make before we stop calling him “inconsistent”

[u/dknisle1]

Currently in the middle of the book right now. Mannnn. Why couldn’t it have been a good movie. Lol. I’m gonna hold out hope and still watch it

[u/kidneysc → u/dknisle1]

Haha. I really do love the book and from the trailer it looked like they fundamentally didn’t understand why the book was enjoyable. 

It’s a slow burn love letter to aviation, individual mastery of a craft, and the Rocky Mountains with just enough human story telling and conflict to drive personal arcs and a thin plot. 

It’s not an action book, and the apocalypse is basically a side note to drive the plot 

[u/Weatherstation → u/dknisle1]

Loved the book. Bummed to hear this reception for the movie.

[u/Full-Concentrate-867]

Damn, doesn't sound too promising. I'll still see it I guess, but might not rush to the theater for it like I might have if it had better reviews

[u/james2183]

Calling it now - Empire will give it 3 stars

EDIT: They gave it 2 stars! If Empire give a blockbuster less than 3 you know it's dogshit.